Here are some interesting facts about Thanksgiving that you may not know:
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As far back as 1000 A.D., Native American Indians raised turkeys for food. Aztec Indians in Mexico were raising them as early as 200 B.C.
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Turkeys originally existed in the Eastern United States and Mexico.
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The turkey industry grosses over $1 billion a year.
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The average American consumes over 15 pounds of turkey per year.
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Americans consume over 675 million pounds of turkey each Thanksgiving Day.
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Turkey, like poultry, is lower in cholesterol than beef and many other meats. The dark meat (thigh, legs, etc.) contains more fat and cholesterol than white meat. So that’s why dark meat tastes so good!
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Male turkeys are called “toms,” female turkeys are called “hens” and baby turkeys are called “poults.”
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Turkey eggs are tan in color and speckled with brown. They are about twice as large as chicken eggs.
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In 1947, the first presidential pardon was ceremoniously given to a turkey.
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That long loose skin that hangs down from a turkey’s neck is called the “wattle.”
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Sleepy after the big meal? Turkey contains an amino acid called “tryptophan.” Tryptophan sets off a chemical chain reaction that calms you down and makes you sleepy.
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The wishbone is a tradition of Thanksgiving. Allow the wishbone to dry. Then two people grasp each end of the wishbone. After making a silent wish, they pull it away. Whoever gets the joint portion gets their wish.
